U.S. Navy tests cruise missile re-targeting in mid-flight

byonOctober 7, 2015

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 — A U.S. Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile successfully followed orders to re-target in mid-flight and demonstrated ability to take a photo during a test carried out by the U.S. Navy and the missile producer Raytheon, the major U.S. defense contractor said in a press release Monday.

"During the test, a missile launched from the guided missile destroyer USS Gridley used its onboard camera to capture battle damage indication imagery and then transmitted the image to fleet headquarters via its two-way UHF SATCOM datalink," the release said.

After an order to re-target to a new aim by the strike controllers, the missile successfully struck the designated target.

The test was conducted to demonstrate that the strike controllers can redirect multiple missiles at the same time. Only one missile was flown, while the flight of the rest was simulated via computer to reduce test costs, the company added.

The Tomahawk cruise missile has been employed in combat more than 2,000 times since it was introduced, according to Raytheon. (PNA/Sputnik)